I am dodgy. I can accept it. So, I didn't go into this London bar on Brick Lane Oct. 3, 2008.

I am hot tempered.

I cringe over costs. Accept them. You are in an unfamiliar place. You will be short 30 pence for a bus ride home in London and get stuck putting 3 pounds on your Oyster card, with an additional $3 charge for using your credit card abroad.

What do you want out of your travel? How do you want to represent yourself and your country. Traveling will make you learn plenty about yourself, which is good because it is rarely as important as when you’re seeing the world.

Before you make decisions about your travel, decide whether you want real cultural understanding or just to see the sights. The latter you could do serviceably for a city in a few days, but some think that harmful or shallow.

Are you out to spend money - from restaurants to comfortable beds - or do you want to stay as far or as long as you can for as little money.

Don’t misunderstand, there are benefits and losses for both styles. You just need to understand which you want, and accept that mistakes will be made, tempers flared. You will get lost. You will waste time. Trains will be gone and ticket agents will show up.